–Agriculture Minister

PAYMENTS to rice farmers are expected to be completed before the harvesting of the second crop, at the end of August, according to Minister of Agriculture, Dr. Leslie Ramsammy. 

In an invited comment, he told the Guyana Chronicle that the issue with the late payments to farmers has been normalised and it is improving.
The Minister said, “Certainly before the new harvesting come in, by the end of this month, I want it to be zero.
“We are close to bringing it down to zero…The monies paid are greater than 90 per cent of the amount of what was owed, so a small percentage (about five to six per cent) is still to be paid.”
Dr. Ramsammy explained that the ministry is working closely with millers to ensure that the monies owed are paid to farmers in as short a span of time as possible. He noted that the millers are adhering to the agreements made with the farmers concerning the payment of the monies owed.
Additionally, the General Secretary of the Guyana Rice Producers Association (RPA), Dharamkumar Seeraj said that the payments to farmers are ongoing.
He added that the RPA and the Guyana Rice Development Board (GRDB) are working daily with the millers to ensure that the remaining payments are made to the farmers by the end of this week. “The RPA is providing major support to the millers in ensuring that the monies owed are paid out,” Seeraj said.

HARVESTING
The RPA Head also added that harvesting is expected to commence in two weeks time in Region 6 (East Berbice/Corentyne).
He also pointed out that the crops throughout the rice producing regions are approximately 40 to 60 days old with some being older.
Meanwhile, the dry weather was expected and so far the crops have been doing well. He noted that rice does well in the dry weather.
Seeraj indicated that although there were few showers of rainfall in Region 5 (Mahaica/Berbice), parts of Region 3 (Essequibo Islands/West Demerara) and Region 6, no harm was done to the crops and irrigation measures in place have been assisting with irrigation.
In addition, the RPA General-Secretary explained that initially the dry weather caused a few problems in Black Bush Polder and the front lands of Region 6, but they have been normalized, with the pumps working to help with irrigation.

PADDY BUG
Seeraj noted too that farmers have been urged to keep an eye on possible increases in the local paddy bug population.
These pests cause serious damage to paddy at the milking stage and all the commercial varieties, including the rustic and other varieties, were found infested by this pest. Paddy bugs can be found at the top and base of the rice plants above the water level.
According to him, cases of paddy bugs in certain areas have been noticed and farmers remain alert to the possibility of an increase in the pest population within their rice fields.
Seeraj highlighted the need for control, considering the devastating consequences of damage that can be caused by paddy bugs.
During the spring crop 2013, an outbreak of paddy bug infestation was noticed in Region 2 (Pomeroon/ Supenaam). The prolonged wet periods, accompanied by strong winds, were considered to have caused the migration and dispersal of bugs.

RECORD-BREAKING CROP
The first rice crop brought in a record-breaking 315,000 tonnes, which is not only the largest single crop, but also surpassed the annual targets made by the industry prior to 2000. For the second crop, some 225,000 acres of rice was cultivated, with a production target of 310,000 tonnes with the prices depending on farmers’ yield of bags per acre.

(By Sandy Agasen)